Yup, global modding become real. Acid Dragon from Acid Cave created first global mod, they are alternatives for all fractions composed from neutral creatures. If you want to know more here is an English article.

Commendable effort, but I'm not so sure about the impact. To be honest it doesn't make me feel inclined to play the game when it's so profoundly broken. If modding could fix the glaring issues first and foremost, like classes, specializations, skillwheels, magic, AI, balance or who knows what else, then it would be great.
____________Guide to a Great Heroes GameThe Young Traveler

yeah yeah we all know what you say stevie. I'm disappointed too but it's getting boring hearing the same stuff.
but the mod works!!!!i finally played dungeon without those filthy minotaurs! if only the medusa was being replaced by the faceless... oh a man can dream the panthers should replace trogs but i guess stat wise, they were closer to assassins :/
who ever did this ,good job! I cannot pm you in the acid cave forums! way to go. a broken game is getting a tad more fun amybe it's a road for further global mods that migh fix some gameplay issues since the devs are trolling us ____________

@ChrisD1
I do come here from time to time . I'm a long time fan and a so-called VIP fan in Ubisoft. I'm glad you like the mod. To be honest I was afraid to post a message about the mod here, because I expected a ton of negative comments for simply liking the game or doing anything for it (like "let it die already" or "who cares?"). But the response isn't what I expected, so thank you Kwarc for posting!

I don't think I can do anything about core features of the game like weak AI, although I was one of VIP fans who were involved in designing changes for the Random Skill System (something which I am allowed to say), so when the changes are implemented in the game (officially) that aspect may become better.
Unfortunately because of recent events, Ubisoft decided to hold all communication with VIP fans, so I am no longer involved in any official game tweaking. But there's always modding .

About Efreeti and Infernopolis - I can assure you that I am not a fan of those ideas myself. However I didn't have much choice - it was either that or leave Stronghold with a single alternative creature and Necropolis with none. But I think this is only the beginning of modding. Already our Acid Cave members are working on finding a possible way to import creatures from Heroes 6 and one of us is even working on an Elemental Conflux faction. So it's Infernopolis and Infernghold for now, but who knows? Maybe new creatures and new factions are comming our way?

I cannot be certain if it's all VIPs and all cases. I do not monitor PMs, emails and such . But it does affect me. Please don't ask me details, because they're in the NDA territory.

Stevie said:traitor

... said the man co-responsible for ruining chances for reinvigorating HoMM fan communities and VIP fans for making the game better. Yes, clearly it is I who am the traitor and it is I who's actions work against Heroes fans. I am sure that your hate-filled posts have done so much good for every fan out there. Good job.

Do you know if the mod will be compatible with future versions like 2.0?
What's your stance on Heroes 7 in general - did it fail or succeed according to you? Do you believe modding can "save" the game?

AcidDragon said:

Stevie said:traitor

... said the man co-responsible for ruining chances for reinvigorating HoMM fan communities and VIP fans for making the game better. Yes, clearly it is I who am the traitor and it is I who's actions work against Heroes fans. I am sure that your hate-filled posts have done so much good for every fan out there. Good job.

AcidDragon said:@ChrisD1
I do come here from time to time . I'm a long time fan and a so-called VIP fan in Ubisoft. I'm glad you like the mod. To be honest I was afraid to post a message about the mod here, because I expected a ton of negative comments for simply liking the game or doing anything for it (like "let it die already" or "who cares?").

trying to improve anything should always get you a pat on the back here.

@Articun
As far as there's no new content involved, quite a lot can be done. Town trees can be redesigned (as in - building requirements, costs, positions in the tree, connections), creatures can be moved to different factions, stats and special abilities can be changed.

@Stevie
For a possible 2.0 version I will try to make a new version, but in general it depends on the game. For example if a game patch introduces a new neutral creature - it will still be compatible with the mod. But if it introduces a new faction, then of course not. Besides technical reasons, the mod would have to include alternative creatures for the new faction as well.

My general stance on Heroes VII is that I'm in the 40% of players that have a positive opinion about the game. It has many flaws. AI and high requirements being the worse of them. But in the end it is enjoyable. It's not Heroes III or V, but I like it definitely more than Heroes VI or IV. As for succeeding - I'm not lying to myself. I can see steamspy numbers, I did see what kind of promotion, marketing and general budget the game had probably had, I can see what reviews did it get upon release - especially in my country. The game was released definitely too early and I think Ubisoft paid a high price for that mistake. So of course, it isn't a successful Heroes game and it probably won't ever be a "hit" (then again - it did take a second expansion for Heroes 5 to be one). But it is getting better. And right now it can be played without a high risk of frustration that some campaign script will get an error or the game will crash. Plus things like free DLCs are a welcome change from Heroes 6 "adventure packs" which offered less content but had a pricetag. I think Marzhin outdid himself with getting those done.

As for mods - if a game needed to be saved with fan mods then it wouldn't be worth any fan mods in the first place. Heroes VII doesn't need to be "saved" by fan mods. But fans can make some changes to fit their needs. Especially with balance, as almost every numerical value in the game can be modified. Will mods make you like the game? Probably never. To many fans Heroes 7 is hopeless and dead. For them even the best mods won't change that. But for those 40% that consider the game to be on the "OK" side, they may get some more enjoyable gameplay hours.

Then again I actually had one commenter who said that my mod convinced him to join the "OK" side of things so maybe, just maybe, mods can make the game better for some players, help to change their minds and give the game another shot.